Michigan Lineup, News, Notes, Stats, ETC.

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THE RACE: Pure Michigan 400
TRACK: Michigan International Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Race #23 of 36 for the 2011 season

Race: Sunday, August 21, 2011 in Brooklyn, MI

Title Sponsor: Pure Michigan

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:16pm/et

•NASCAR Pre-race: ESPN's NASCAR Countdown - 12:00pm/et

•Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 1:00pm/et

•In the Booth: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Vince Welch, Dr. Jerry Punch
NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace
ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage: Tim Brewer

•SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 10:00am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

 

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Track Specifications

Superspeedway: 2.0-mile D-shaped oval
Banking: turns: 18 degrees; straights: frontstretch 12 degrees, backstretch 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,600 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,242 feet
73 feet wide with 10-foot apron in turns, 45 feet wide with 12-foot apron on straightaways
Pit lane is 50 feet wide and contains space for 44 individual pit areas
Pit Road Speed: 45mph
Pace Car Speed: 55mph
Seating: 108,000
Opened: 1968

 

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•August 2010 Race Winner: #29-Kevin Harvick, 144.029 mph, started 8th

•June 2011 Race Winner: #11-Denny Hamlin, 153.029, started 10th

•Track Race Record: Dale Jarrett, June 1999, 173.997mph (no cautions)

•Slowest Track Race Record: Richard Petty, 107.583mph, 8/24/1975

•Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 52 years, 7 months, 6 days, 8/16/1992

•Youngest Race Winner: Kurt Busch, 24 years, 10 months, 11 days, 6/15/2003

•August 2010 Pole Sitter: #9-Kasey Kahne, 187.183mph, finished 14th

•June 2011 Pole Sitter: #2-Kurt Busch, 188.699mph, finished 11th

•Track Qualifying Record: #12-Ryan Newman, June 2005, 194.232mph

•Oldest Pole Winner: Dale Jarrett, 45 years, 6 months, 21 days, 6/16/2002

•Young Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 14 days, 6/18/1995

 

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The Numbers for the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan Int'l Speedway

0 - fewest cautions (three times, most recent 6/13/99)
1 - fewest laps led by race winner (Mark Martin, 6/14/09)
2 - fewest cars on lead lap at finish (five times, most recent 6/15/75)
5 - fewest leaders (five times, most recent 8/12/84)
6 - races won from outside a top-20 starting position
6 - wins by Dodge at MIS since manufacturer's return to NASCAR in 2001
7 - fewest lead changes (8/12/84)
8 - number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend at MIS
9 - most wins (David Pearson)
10 - most poles (David Pearson)
10 - most cautions (8/20/06)
11 - wins by car owner (Wood Brothers, Jack Roush)
14 - fewest cars running at finish (6/16/74)
15 - most leaders (6/20/82)
18 - drivers with more than one win
21 - drivers with more than one pole at MIS
21 - lead changes in June race at MIS
24 - wins from the front row; 16 from the pole
32 - worst starting position for race winner (Mark Martin, 2009)
33 - different race winners
37 - most cars on lead lap at finish (6/18/06)
40 - different pole winners
41 - most cars running at finish (five times, most recent 6/17/07)
63 - most caution laps (8/24/75)
65 - most lead changes (8/16/81)
120 minutes - approximate amount of time it takes to dry the 2.0-mile track
162 - laps led by race winner (Rusty Wallace, 8/20/89)
1967 - year construction began on MIS
1969 - first Sprint Cup race
1972 - track purchased by Roger Penske
1973 - only one Sprint Cup race
1999 - year MIS purchased by ISC

 

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2011 Caution Update

4 - fewest cautions this season (Fontana and Pocono)
5 - number of races extended beyond scheduled distance in 2011
5 - number of cautions in June race at MIS
16 - most cautions this season (Daytona)
162 - number of cautions in the first 22 races of 2011; includes 76 for accidents, 38 for debris and 23 for spins
753 of 6,048 - number of laps under caution in 2011
1,101.611 of 8, 760.258 - miles under caution in the first 22 races
BONUS: In addition to Michigan Int'l Speedway, three other Michigan tracks hosted five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in the 1950s - Grand River Speedrome (Grand Rapids), Michigan State Fairgrounds (Detroit) and Monroe Speedway.

 

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At Michigan International Speedway

• Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the "Irish Hills" of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969.
• The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).
• There have been 84 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.
• The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 - with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.
• Donnie Allison won the first pole.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Cale Yarborough.
• There have been 40 different pole winners, led by David Pearson with 10. Mark Martin has five poles.
• 33 different drivers have won races, led by David Pearson (nine); 18 have more than one victory there.
• The race winner has started from the pole 16 times, the most productive starting position. Brian Vickers (August 2009) was the last driver to win from the pole.
• 65 of 84 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 46 from the first four spots.
• The deepest in the field a race winner has started was 32nd, by Mark Martin in last season's June race.
• The Wood Brothers and Roush Fenway Racing both have 11 wins, more than any other car owners.
• Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin are the only active drivers to average a top-10 finish. Edwards, who has two Michigan wins, has an average finish of 6.2. Coincidentally, Edwards' first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start came at Michigan. Kenseth, who also has two victories, has an average finish of 9.5. Hamlin's average finish is 10.0.

 

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Chase Clinch scenarios going into Michigan

Four drivers have a mathematical chance of locking up Chase berths. Traditionally, Michigan is the scene of the first driver Chase clinch. Every Chase year (2004-Present) except 2004 and 2006 has seen a driver clinch a spot at Michigan. Kevin Harvick did it last year, and could do it again in 2011. Leaving this weekend, a clinching driver has to have a 145-point lead over 11th place. Those who can mathematically clinch this weekend: #18-Kyle Busch, #99-Carl Edwards,#48- Jimmie Johnson and #29-Kevin Harvick. Busch and Edwards are currently 118 points ahead of 11th. Johnson is 112 and Harvick is 104. Then there's a Wild Card clinch possibility: If Kyle Busch or Harvick win this weekend, either driver will have four victories, which will lock them into the Chase as at least one of the Wild Card spots.

 

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STARTING LINEUP

1 16 Greg Biffle Pure Michigan Ford 190.345 37.826
2 17 Matt Kenseth Kroger Ford 190.209 37.853
3 39 Ryan Newman WIX Filters Chevy 189.573 37.980
4 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota 189.294 38.036
5 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevy 189.190 38.057
6 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge 189.006 38.094
7 6 David Ragan UPS Ford 188.734 38.149
8 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevy 188.669 38.162
9 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevy 188.600 38.176
10 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy 188.462 38.204
11 27 Paul Menard Duracell / Menards Chevy 188.378 38.221
12 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota 188.353 38.226
13 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge 188.230 38.251
14 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota 188.112 38.275
15 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 188.088 38.280
16 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford 188.058 38.286
17 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 188.004 38.297
18 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevy 187.999 38.298
19 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevy 187.774 38.344
20 21 Trevor Bayne (i) JDRF / Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford 187.759 38.347
21 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota 187.710 38.357
22 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford 187.676 38.364
23 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota 187.651 38.369
24 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John's Chevy 187.432 38.414
25 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevy 186.994 38.504
26 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 186.921 38.519
27 38 Travis Kvapil (i) Long John Silver's Ford 186.848 38.534
28 47 Bobby Labonte Kingsford / Bush's Baked Beans Toyota 186.703 38.564
29 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford 186.611 38.583
30 78 Regan Smith FurnitureRowRacing/FarmAmerican Chev 186.340 38.639
31 55 JJ Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford 186.287 38.650
32 31 Jeff Burton CAT Financial Chevy 186.234 38.661
33 51 Landon Cassill (i) PhoenixCnstrctn/ThankATchrToday Chev 185.624 38.788
34 36 Dave Blaney Accell Construction Chevy 185.500 38.814
35 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevy 185.405 38.834
36 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevy 185.323 38.851
37 87 Joe Nemechek (i) NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 185.261 38.864
38 71 Andy Lally # Interstate Moving Services Ford 185.142 38.889
39 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 184.933 38.933
40 66 Todd Bodine (i) HP Racing Toyota 184.838 38.953
41 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 183.538 39.229
42 32 Ken Schrader KOMA Unwind Ford 183.234 39.294
43 60 Mike Skinner (i) Big Red Toyota 183.215 39.298
DNQ 7 Johnny Sauter Speed Energy Dodge 182.815 39.384
DNQ 46 Erik Darnell Ford 182.062 39.547
DNQ 50 T.J. Bell # Green Smoke Chevy 181.269 39.720

 

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NSCS Practice 1

1 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 188.813 38.133 182.277 3 24
2 39 Ryan Newman Chevy 188.506 38.195 186.865 1 9
3 16 Greg Biffle Ford 188.467 38.203 187.020 3 9
4 5 Mark Martin Chevy 188.462 38.204 186.981 11 11
5 6 David Ragan Ford 188.260 38.245 186.634 1 9
6 27 Paul Menard Chevy 187.990 38.300 187.282 1 7
7 24 Jeff Gordon Chevy 187.926 38.313 187.007 1 5
8 1 Jamie McMurray Chevy 187.842 38.330 183.643 15 15
9 2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 187.754 38.348 186.856 7 7
10 9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 187.696 38.360 186.680 9 9
11 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 187.607 38.378 184.459 18 18
12 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 187.437 38.413 181.571 3 27
13 22 Kurt Busch Dodge 187.412 38.418 186.734 1 9
14 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Chevy 187.359 38.429 184.096 10 12
15 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevy 187.310 38.439 182.239 22 24
16 20 Joey Logano Toyota 187.266 38.448 182.348 23 23
17 4 Kasey Kahne Toyota 187.135 38.475 182.979 23 25
18 00 David Reutimann Toyota 187.062 38.490 185.043 1 9
19 21 Trevor Bayne Ford 187.037 38.495 186.420 1 9
20 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 186.994 38.504 186.051 1 10
21 14 Tony Stewart Chevy 186.872 38.529 182.171 24 24
22 33 Clint Bowyer Chevy 186.800 38.544 184.201 18 18
23 43 AJ Allmendinger Ford 186.790 38.546 186.243 4 8
24 31 Jeff Burton Chevy 186.678 38.569 183.181 7 11
25 56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 186.659 38.573 185.141 5 11
26 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy 186.640 38.577 185.609 1 9
27 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy 186.528 38.600 183.017 21 23
28 99 Carl Edwards Ford 186.495 38.607 183.206 1 11
29 78 Regan Smith Chev 186.490 38.608 182.662 19 21
30 51 Landon Cassill Chev 186.413 38.624 183.762 9 9
31 30 David Stremme Chevy 186.253 38.657 184.902 5 9
32 13 Casey Mears Toyota 185.931 38.724 185.020 4 8
33 38 Travis Kvapil Ford 185.922 38.726 184.757 5 9
34 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 185.577 38.798 184.884 1 9
35 55 J.J. Yeley Ford 185.405 38.834 184.784 5 7
36 36 Dave Blaney Chevy 185.376 38.840 183.999 1 7
37 71 Andy Lally Ford 184.696 38.983 179.394 19 20
38 66 Todd Bodine Toyota 184.620 38.999 184.217 3 5
39 87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 184.308 39.065 183.842 5 7
40 34 David Gilliland Ford 184.082 39.113 182.811 5 7
41 60 Mike Skinner Toyota 183.781 39.177 182.118 8 8
42 7 Johnny Sauter Dodge 183.192 39.303 180.789 7 7
43 32 Ken Schrader Ford 183.127 39.317 182.818 3 7
44 46 Erik Darnell Ford 182.352 39.484 181.305 3 13
45 50 T.J. Bell Chevy 182.343 39.486 181.808 4 12
46 37 Tony Raines Ford 181.626 39.642 180.721 8 12

 

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NSCS Practice 1 Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average

Rank Car# Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed Overall Rank
1 11 Denny Hamlin 5 14 181.234 12


Car must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included in the above chart

 

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NSCS Final Practice

1 5 Mark Martin CARQUEST / GoDaddy.com Chevy 187.642 38.371 181.081 1 52
2 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 187.417 38.417 181.249 1 53
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevy 187.407 38.419 179.901 1 68
4 16 Greg Biffle Pure Michigan Ford 187.393 38.422 181.041 1 54
5 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevy 187.246 38.452 180.575 1 47
6 22 Kurt Busch Shell Pennzoil Dodge 187.086 38.485 181.310 1 48
7 17 Matt Kenseth Kroger Ford 187.003 38.502 181.377 2 50
8 39 Ryan Newman WIX Filters Chevy 186.916 38.520 180.641 1 60
9 6 David Ragan UPS Ford 186.901 38.523 179.900 1 49
10 27 Paul Menard Duracell / Menards Chevy 186.693 38.566 181.721 1 43
11 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Freight Toyota 186.669 38.571 181.152 1 45
12 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard / AMP Energy Chevy 186.596 38.586 181.064 1 39
13 33 Clint Bowyer Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevy 186.229 38.662 181.407 1 53
14 99 Carl Edwards Aflac Ford 186.099 38.689 180.272 1 35
15 14 Tony Stewart Mobil 1 / Office Depot Chevy 186.047 38.700 180.632 1 47
16 78 Regan Smith FurnitureRowRacing/FarmAmerican Chev 185.974 38.715 180.424 1 54
17 31 Jeff Burton CAT Financial Chevy 185.811 38.749 180.542 1 44
18 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Toyota 185.806 38.750 180.282 1 45
19 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Target Chevy 185.682 38.776 180.740 1 35
20 29 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John's Chevy 185.596 38.794 181.207 1 53
21 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge 185.562 38.801 181.198 1 60
22 43 AJ Allmendinger Best Buy Ford 185.171 38.883 180.518 1 44
23 20 Joey Logano The Home Depot Toyota 185.114 38.895 180.222 1 48
24 00 David Reutimann Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota 185.019 38.915 180.021 2 49
25 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford 184.914 38.937 180.929 2 51
26 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy 184.814 38.958 180.729 1 43
27 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Chevy 184.762 38.969 178.153 1 18
28 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Toyota 184.620 38.999 180.401 1 49
29 21 Trevor Bayne (i) JDRF / Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford 183.323 39.275 180.688 4 44
30 51 Landon Cassill (i) PhoenixCnstrctn/ThankATchrToday Chev 183.132 39.316 178.482 1 34
31 56 Martin Truex Jr. NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 183.024 39.339 179.541 36 45
32 13 Casey Mears GEICO Toyota 182.736 39.401 181.157 2 9
33 47 Bobby Labonte Kingsford / Bush's Baked Beans Toyota 182.658 39.418 179.491 1 39
34 36 Dave Blaney Accell Construction Chevy 182.057 39.548 178.495 1 25
35 55 J.J. Yeley Front Row Motorsports Ford 181.470 39.676 177.087 2 19
36 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 181.342 39.704 178.190 1 37
37 32 Ken Schrader KOMA Unwind Ford 181.232 39.728 177.856 2 41
38 66 Todd Bodine (i) HP Racing Toyota 181.210 39.733 178.622 3 10
39 71 Andy Lally # Interstate Moving Services Ford 181.032 39.772 177.592 38 45
40 38 Travis Kvapil (i) Long John Silver's Ford 180.796 39.824 178.525 2 31
41 37 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 180.032 39.993 179.204 2 8
42 87 J.J. Yeley NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 179.820 40.040 179.650 2 2
43 60 Mike Skinner(i) Big Red Toyota 179.789 40.047 177.290 1 17

 

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NSCS Final Practice Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average

Rank Car# Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed Overall Rank
1 27 Paul Menard 1 10 183.837 10
2 18 Kyle Busch 1 10 183.616 2
3 22 Kurt Busch 1 10 183.610 6
4 33 Clint Bowyer 1 10 183.343 13
5 2 Brad Keselowski 1 10 183.153 21
6 39 Ryan Newman 1 10 182.950 8
7 16 Greg Biffle 27 36 181.439 4
8 17 Matt Kenseth 38 47 181.416 7
9 9 Marcos Ambrose 40 49 181.329 25
10 11 Denny Hamlin 22 31 181.037 11
11 14 Tony Stewart 14 23 180.920 15
12 83 Brian Vickers 18 27 180.763 28
13 24 Jeff Gordon 38 47 180.732 5
14 78 Regan Smith 17 26 180.711 16
15 5 Mark Martin 36 45 180.484 1
16 20 Joey Logano 17 26 180.057 23
17 48 Jimmie Johnson 47 56 180.007 3
18 56 Martin Truex Jr. 16 25 179.962 31
19 4 Kasey Kahne 36 45 179.376 18
20 6 David Ragan 24 33 179.103 9
21 34 David Gilliland 1 10 179.094 36
22 21 Trevor Bayne(i) 34 43 178.967 29
23 71 Andy Lally # 21 30 177.894 39
24 32 Ken Schrader 32 41 177.074 37


Car must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included in the above chart

 

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pit Stall Selections
Michigan International Speedway

 

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Goodyear Tires Notes / Fast Facts

Tire:
Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials (Sprint Cup);
Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials (Camping World Truck)

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,325, Right-side -- 1,325;
Camping World Truck: Left-side -- 325, Right-side -- 325

Set limits:
Sprint Cup: 5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for race;
Camping World Truck: 4 sets for the weekend

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4396; Right-side -- D-4444

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.2 in.; Right-side -- 88.3 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 22 psi; Left Rear  20 psi;
Right Front -- 45 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 36-40 laps, based on fuel mileage.

Notes: Teams in the both NASCAR series in action at Michigan this weekend will run the same Goodyear tire codes, though the Sprint Cup tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup teams ran at Michigan in June . . . in the Cup Series, teams have also run this left-side tire code (D-4396) at Kentucky and this right-side code (D-4444) at Dover earlier this season . . . for the trucks, this is their first time on this left-side code, but also ran this right-side at Dover in May . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tire positions at Michigan . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

 

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Some Chassis Selections by Teams for this race

Chassis selections for Michigan: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Michigan International Speedway:
MISSING? why are some teams missing? like the #4, #11, #16 or others? those teams do not report what chassis in the race previews or prs.
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin Manion and the Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevy team will bring chassis #1102 to Michigan this weekend. This will be the sixth time that Chassis #1102 has been used this year, following Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway and both races at Pocono Raceway.
#2-Brad Keselowski: and the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-753 during Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Keselowski last drove this chassis to a 19th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May after winning the pole position for the event.
#5-Mark Martin: crew chief Lance McGrew has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-656 for Sunday's race at Michigan. This is the same chassis that Martin drove at Darlington Raceway in May and Kansas Speedway in June.
#6-David Ragan: Primary Chassis RK-777 Last ran Indianapolis and finished 23rd; and the backup chassis is RK-711 Last ran Darlington and finished 21st
#9-Marcos Ambrose: The #9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 784 for the 400-mile Pure Michigan 400 at the Brooklyn, Mich. track. This is a brand new Stanley Ford Fusion specially prepared for this event. Australian Word of the Week: YabberTalk (A lot)
#14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-564 debuted at Texas in Nov 2009, where it qualified fourth and finishing sixth. The 2009 season finale at Homestead marked the car's second career start. There, it qualified fifth and led twice for 43 laps before two separate on-track incidents with Juan Pablo Montoya relegated it to a 22nd-place finish. It saw action during the offseason when it was used for a Goodyear tire test at Texas Jan. 19-20. It returned to competition in February at Auto Club Speedway, where it started 16th and finished ninth. It returned to Texas in April qualifying on the pole and led five times for 74 laps before a late-race accident relegated it to a 32nd-place finish. It was repaired and fitted with a new body for the series' June stop at Michigan, where it qualified 17th and finished a solid fifth. It sat idle until it returned to Michigan for the series' August visit, qualifying fourth and leading three times for 36 laps before finishing sixth. The October race at Auto Club marked career start seven and second at Fontana, and there it delivered Stewart's 39th career Sprint Cup win and his first at ACS. The same car returned to action in November at Texas, where it qualified 11th and 500 miles later finished 11th. With a new body honed in the wind tunnel, Chassis No. 14-564 got its first start of 2011 and the ninth of its career at ACS, qualifying fifth and leading four times for 11 laps. In the waning laps, however, it dropped from third to 13th after a late-race restart. Its next start came in May at Charlotte in the non-points All-Star Race, where it started sixth and finished fourth. In June at Michigan it qualified sixth and finishing seventh. Idle since, Chassis No. 14-564 returns to Michigan for this weekend's Pure Michigan 400.
#17-Matt Kenseth: will run primary chassis RK-741 which last raced at Indy. This weekend at Michigan, Kenseth will pilot the #17 Kroger Ford Fusion.
#18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 315 will make its second-ever start in Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. In its first outing last month in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Busch started a distant 29th but still managed to bring home a respectable 10th-place finish.
#21-Trevor Bayne: crew chief said this particular Ford Fusion is the same chassis that was used in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May will be used at Michigan.
#22-Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led "Double-Deuce" crew will be racing their "PR-744" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger this weekend at Michigan. This chassis debuted at Las Vegas in March. Busch started 22nd and led the race en route to a ninth-place finish in that race. In its last outing, the team raced the car from a 10th-place start to a 10th-place finish in April at Texas.
#27-Paul Menard will pilot Chassis No. 326 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This #27 Menard's / Duracell Chevy was a brand new addition to the RCR fleet for the 2011 season and was last seen in competition on track at Michigan in June where Menard brought home a fourth-place result after starting from ninth. This car was also raced this year at Bristol where Menard started fourth and finished fifth and during the non-points Sprint Showdown at Charlotte where he started third and finished 11th.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will race chassis No. 373 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new race Jimmy John's Chevrolet that will see its first on-track action at Michigan this weekend.
#31-Jeff Burton will race Chassis No. 348 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built brand new for the 2011 season, the lone event this #31 Cat Financial Chevy competed at was Auto Club Speedway in March where the veteran driver recorded a 15th-place result.
#33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot chassis No. 368 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevy, built new for 2011, saw action last month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Bowyer brought home a 13th-place finish after starting 26th.
#36-Dave Blaney: and TBR will bring chassis No. 556 to Michigan International Speedway for the chassis' debut. TBR will compete to feed America's families again this weekend. If the #36 Accell Construction Chevy finishes in the top-10 in the Pure Michigan 400, kids eat free (with an adult purchase) on Monday, August 22nd. Golden Corral will also donate $5,000 to the DAV.
#39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-677 was brand new for Indianapolis just three races ago. Newman qualified 23rd in that race and finished 12th. The Pure Michigan 400 will mark the second start this season for Chassis 39-677.
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: and crew chief Jim Pohlman will bring chassis #1108 to Michigan this weekend. This is the second time that this chassis will be raced this year after running in the first race at Michigan in June when Montoya finished 30th after being caught up in an on-track incident.
#43-A.J. Allmendinger: The #43 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 742 for this weekend's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This Best Buy Ford Fusion has been run previously this season on several occasions, including the races in Kentucky, Charlotte, N.C. and Fontana, Calif.
#48-Jimmie Johnson: will pilot chassis No. 669 in Sunday's event. He last drove that car to a third-place finish at Kansas Speedway in July. Johnson finished 16th in backup chassis No. 623 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Steve Letarte and the #88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-676. This is a brand new chassis that has not been raced or tested.
#99-Carl Edwards: The #99 Aflac crew will be unloading chassis 765. Edwards last raced this car at Kentucky last month where he finished fifth. He also ran it at the Coke 600 in May at CMS